Shanghai on New Year's Eve is a little different from most places you've probably lived. There's no single countdown square (no Times Square moment), no city‑wide fireworks broadcast, and definitely no universally agreed "best party spot." What you will find is a city that lights up in its own way: hotel bars with skyline vistas, boutique clubs holding their breath for midnight, and neighbourhood hangouts bubbling with their own brand of low‑key chaos.
Below are the questions people actually ask — where to go, what to expect, when to book, and how to survive New Year's Eve in Shanghai without losing your phone, your friends, or your will to celebrate.
Will there be fireworks on the Bund?
Short answer: No big official fireworks show on the Bund. Shanghai has long since stopped hosting large public fireworks displays on the Bund for crowd control and safety reasons, especially after the 2014 stampede on the Bund. Since then, big official Bund fireworks have generally been cancelled.
So what happens instead?
The skyline is usually illuminated with special festive lighting around NYE as part of the city's plans to create a celebratory atmosphere, and lights stay on until 12.15 (usually they go off at 10pm).
People still gather around the Bund for the countdown vibe and skyline views — it gets very crowded even without fireworks.
Where do I go for fireworks?
Nothing NYE specific that we are aware of. Shanghai Disneyland and Happy Valley have fireworks every night.
Is Jan 1st a public holiday? Is NYE even "a thing" since they have Chinese New Year?
Yes — Jan 1st to 4th are public holidays in China (full list of public holidays 2026 here). It's separate from the much bigger Chinese Lunar New Year holiday (Feb 17 to March 3rd.)
Is that big Christmas Market on the Bund still on for NYE?
No. They once extended it past Christmas, but this year it ends on Dec 28.
What are the big NYE Parties?
SmartShanghai has all the big fancy NYE parties listed, and — how convenient — we also sell tickets for all of them.
How late are the metros running? Can I use Didi/Meituan/etc during New Year's?
Metro operating hours for New Year's Eve haven't been officially announced yet. In previous years, a few lines usually ran slightly later than normal, though during peak crowding, some major stations such as East Nanjing Road and Yuyuan Garden were sometimes skipped to manage passenger flow. It's best to wait for this year's official notice.
Can I use Didi/Meituan/etc during New Year's?
Ride-hailing services like Didi and Meituan are not affected by the holiday, but demand is typically very high, so be prepared for longer wait times.
If you're partying on the Bund, prepare way in advance. Taking a Didi 40 minutes before the countdown is going to see you spending your first hour in 2026 in the back of a car. Get there early, like two-three hours early, and plan your egress for after the clock strikes midnight. The easiest is if you arrive before 8pm.
As of now, this year's official traffic control plan hasn't been released yet, but in previous years, the police have cordoned off a large section of the Bund to traffic. During that time, taxis and Didi aren't able to pick up or drop off passengers within the restricted area. Based on past years, the no-traffic zone is typically in effect from 8pm on December 31 to 1am on January 1.
The nearest spots to the Bund that aren't blocked are the Bei Suzhou Lu / Daming Lu intersection (北苏州路大名路路口) right by the Garden Bridge near Astor House, or the Fuxing Dong Lu / Zhongshan Nan Lu intersection (复兴东路中山南路路口) by theHuangpu River Ferry Station.
I'm planning a rager at mine. How can I get some clean-up help the next day?
You can book ayi services through Tian E Dao Jia (天鹅到家). Just search for it on WeChat, and you'll easily find their mini program. Pricing is based on how long you need the ayi and how big or messy your place is. For reference, regular cleaning for a standard apartment costs 150rmb for three hours. If your apartment is larger or needs more work, you can simply book a longer session. It's recommended to book in advance.
Another option is Jing Dong Bao Jie (京东保洁), which can also be booked via its WeChat mini program. Prices are slightly higher, at around 180rmb for three hours.
That said, there are plenty of platforms offering home cleaning services these days, including familiar names like Meituan. If you regularly use Hema for groceries, their platform also offers cleaning services as well. Of course, if you already have your own ayi, you'll save yourself a lot of last-minute hassle on the day itself.
Other Ways to Celebrate
For a traditional countdown, small temples like Donglin in Jinshan and Xiaoputuo in Pudong are hosting midnight bell ceremonies—both a bit farther out—while larger temples' plans, like Longhua and Jing'an Temple, haven't been announced yet— though they have typically held these ceremonies in past years.
Festive installations & markets around Yuyuan/BFC (e.g., ice rinks, winter pop‑ups).
Tank Shanghai turns its museum into a late-night karaoke space with open and curated sessions, ending with a playful midnight countdown.
For kids or families:Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park runs themed shows and performances from Dec 31 to Jan 3 — no fireworks on NYE, but a full-day, family-friendly celebration.Shanghai Disneyland is ringing in the New Year with a special castle celebration, "Ignite the New Year," on December 31 and January 1.
Quick Context Notes
Even without a huge official Bund fireworks show, NYE in Shanghai is absolutely a vibe — people still come out in big crowds, there's lots of energy, music, drinks, and informal countdowns.
Crowds are heavy around the Bund — plan transport early and expect closures/controls.
Shanghai's version of fireworks culture is more linked to Chinese New Year (Lunar) than Dec 31.
